Latest news with #revitalization
CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Report on state of Downtown Pittsburgh focuses on revitalization
Is Downtown Pittsburgh growing? Is it dying? Does the outlook look good, or is it discouraging? Those questions and others were addressed Tuesday during a meeting with the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and local leaders. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership is the group that puts on Picklesburgh, Light Up Night and other events. They're also the think tank and actors leading the charge to revitalize Downtown as a vibrant center for the entire region. A few short decades ago, Downtown Pittsburgh was one of the most dynamic city centers in the country. Today, in 2025, some say it's a struggling space trying to redefine its identity. But there are people working to revitalize Downtown. "We have a number of residential projects and conversions in the pipeline. There's currently 1,062 residential units in the pipeline for delivery to market over the next three years, and 79% of those are former office space," said Cate Irvin, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership's senior director of economic development. Part of the strategy to grow Downtown is taking the ever-growing amount of empty office space and turning it into residential space. Another key factor is not only keeping businesses Downtown, but doing everything possible to attract new ones. "Help address specific issues, whether that might be permitting, public safety, transit, workforce, really just about anything," Irvin said. Safety is on the list. It comes after two people were shot in the Cultural District on Friday. "There was the unfortunate incident this past week in the Cultural District. There's been a lot of discussion about what happened there and how to ensure it doesn't happen again. We continue to see a significant police presence in Downtown with the public safety center, but we know it's not enough," said Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership president and CEO Jeremy Waldrup. Waldrup went on to say that more needs to be done. And don't think this is a unique Pittsburgh problem. Many major cities throughout our nation are experiencing these same challenges.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Winnipeg developer recognized with honorary street naming
A city worker installs a sign for the honorary street name Monte Nathanson Way on a section of Lombard Avenue on August 5, 2025. (Jamie Dowsett/CTV News Winnipeg) The City of Winnipeg has officially recognized a man who helped revitalize and transform Winnipeg's Exchange District. Councillor Vivian Santos announced an honorific street naming of the area between 93 Lombard Avenue and 111 Lombard Avenue intersecting with Westbrook Street as 'Monte Nathanson Way.' The name honours the developer, who passed away in 2024 at the age of 93. 'Monte was a pioneer, not just in bricks and mortar, but in imagination,' Santos said. 'When others looked at Winnipeg's old warehouse buildings and saw relics of the past, Monte saw potential. He believed in the power of restoration and revitalization, and through his leadership, we saw the rebirth of the Exchange District.' Coun. Vivian Santos announces the honorary street name Monte Nathanson Way on a section of Lombard Avenue on August 5, 2025. (Jamie Dowsett/CTV News Winnipeg) Coun. Vivian Santos announces the honorary street name Monte Nathanson Way on a section of Lombard Avenue on August 5, 2025. (Jamie Dowsett/CTV News Winnipeg) In the 1970s, Nathanson transformed 93 Lombard Avenue, which was a warehouse and a pipe factory, into a new office building in the Exchange District. 'It was in shambles: sinking floors, rail sidings, corroded plumbing and a dilapidated loading dock,' said his daughter Sherryl Steinberg. 'But that's not what he saw. He saw the beauty of original brick and beam. He saw a stately, dignified building that could become the launchpad for a revitalized area. Once again, he had a plan to restore Winnipeg's architectural heritage and make the Exchange District and waterfront a place to work, live and learn.' Nathanson, who helped create United Equities Group, also helped restore numerous historic properties in Winnipeg, including 111 Lombard Avenue and 200 Waterfront Drive. 'Monte left his mark, not only in our skyline, but in the very soul of our downtown,' Santos said. 'His work helped build the cultural and economic vibrancy we are all enjoying today.'
CBS News
5 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Maryland finances most affordable housing in nearly a decade in FY2025
The Maryland Department of Housing financed the most affordable housing in nearly a decade in fiscal year 2025. In FY2025, the department financed 3,997 newly constructed or substantially rehabilitated units, an increase of more than 1,000 units from FY2024's total of 2,949. For FY2025, the state has financed $1.64 billion in new development projects and provided $1 billion in acquisition mortgages for first-time homebuyers. The department has also continued to offer assistance to homebuyers through the Maryland Mortgage Program, which has provided mortgages to almost 4,300 Marylanders, amounting to more than $1 billion in FY2025. The state has made many recent efforts to create affordable housing and revitalize neighborhoods. In June, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced the UPLIFT program, an initiative with the goal of providing wealth-building homeownership opportunities in historically redlined communities. The UPLIFT program aims to increase homeownership in disinvested neighborhoods, increase employment opportunities for Maryland workers and businesses from historically disadvantaged demographic groups, and revitalize disinvested neighborhoods. In Dec. 2024, Moore announced a $50.8 million effort to create more affordable housing and rehabilitate vacant buildings in Baltimore City through the Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative. The plan was committed to Maryland's fiscal year 2025 budget and will accelerate the funding to rehabilitate vacant properties and clear the way for affordable housing, new green space, and mixed-use developments. The Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative is one of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's seven State Revitalization Programs that provides funding to public, private, and nonprofit partners in Baltimore City, according to the governor's office. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott has been adamant about his goal to tackle the city's vacant housing crisis and help residents gain homeownership. In May, Scott announced that the city reached the $750,000 mark in grants awarded to first-time homebuyers as part of the Buy Back the Block program. Last year, Scott signed a bill creating a special property tax increase on vacant homes. In March of this year, Scott unveiled Bmore F.A.S.T. (Facilitating Approvals and Streamlining Timelines), a plan and $3 billion investment aimed at speeding up the development process in the city.
CBS News
7 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Struggle of Love Foundation brings hope to Aurora community as city eyes Colfax revitalization
As Aurora pushes forward with a plan to transform one of the city's most underserved areas, a local nonprofit is already leading the way. Last month, council members voted to move forward with a plan to create a Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to revitalize the Colfax Corridor. That will now go to voters in November. But long before ballots are cast, community members are taking action. On Friday, the Struggle of Love Foundation hosted its "Peace Sweep" event on East Colfax. The goal is to meet neighbors where they are with free haircuts, hot meals, youth activities, addiction counseling, and more, all aimed at uplifting a community often overlooked. Despite living in an area where violence and poverty often steal headlines, Friday showed a different reality: families having fun, young people finding confidence and organizations leading with compassion. Struggle of Love co-founder Joel Hodge says their mission has always been personal and powered by passion, not paychecks. "We were doing this with no funding," said Hodge. "We worked two full-time jobs, and with all the extra funds we had, we saved and did events for our community." Federal and state budget cuts have made nonprofit survival more difficult than ever. But Hodge credits consistency, faith and support from the community for helping them open two permanent centers. In 2023, the organization opened its East Colfax location. Now, they've expanded into a larger facility in Montbello, located directly across from the District 5 police station. "It's always been a dream," said Hodge. "And now to see this dream come to life, it shows that hard work and dedication and consistency do pay off." The new center, located at 12105 E. 45th Avenue, will offer indoor space for their food bank, creative programming for youth and a haven for mental wellness. "They'll finally have their own space where they can come and be themselves," said Hodge. "They're not forced to play football or basketball. Some kids like to draw, sing, sew. We want to open the door to all of that." As city officials aim to revitalize Colfax through infrastructure, Struggle of Love is working to rebuild something just as critical: trust. "Bringing love back into our community is our mission, and trust again, and belief that we still have a community," said Hodge. "Even when people treat you wrong, you still treat them with love."
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Shreveport launches its fifth Block by Block sweep. What neighborhood is next?
The City of Shreveport announced Friday that the fifth Block by Block neighborhood swap will take place Saturday in Cedar Grove. The meet-up location will be A.B. Palmer Community Center, 547 East 79th St., at 8 a.m. Volunteers are encouraged to arrive before 8 a.m. to get set up with Shreveport Green. What are the scheduled sweeps? Aug. 2 − Cedar Grove Aug. 9 − Allendale Aug. 16 − Pines Road Aug. 23 − Stoner Road Sept. 6 − Southern Hills Sept. 13 − Mooretown Sept. 20 − Broadmoar What is the Block by Block Initiative? Block by Block is a neighborhood-based strategy to combat blight and revitalize distressed areas across Shreveport. The initiative is a result of an intensive planning and leadership effort led by a team of city and community leaders picked by Mayor Tom Arceneaux to participate in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leader Initiative — a global program that helps cities implement more effective public policy. According to a news release from the city, Shreveport was one of a limited number of U.S. cities chosen for the initiative. The Block by Block initiative focuses on targeting resources in high-need areas — one block at a time — rather than spreading efforts too thin, according to the news release. Each neighborhood will have a tailored improvement plan, with a full lifecycle tracking system for violations, abatements, legal actions, demolitions and redevelopment status. The news release said residents will play an essential role in helping to identify priorities, report issues and support neighborhood transformation. Residents are encouraged to take a moment and fill out the Block by Block Survey. Follow Ian Robinson on Twitter @_irobinson and on Facebook at This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Where is Shreveport's fifth Block by Block neighborhood sweep? Solve the daily Crossword
